The Daily Mississippian - June 14, 2018

THE DAILY

MISSISSIPPIAN

Thursday, June 14, 2018

T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S I S S I P P I S E R V I N G O L E M I S S A N D OX F O R D S I N C E 1 9 1 1

Volume 106, No. 112

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04 THE NEW NORMAL

Three years ago, two men made history at the Oxford courthouse and now look to the future

12 HOW TO: PRIDE Three steps to own your first pride

15 A GUIDE TO THE DM ONLINE

The DM is publishing in print three times this summer, but new stories can be found online daily

ILLUSTRATION BY JAKE THRASHER

PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR If this is your first day on this campus or if this is simply your first time reading The Daily Mississippian, then I welcome you.

I welcome you to this special place and welcome you to the proud and outspoken student body you now represent. It’s time for you to step into your new role as a living and breathing part of this evolving campus. The time is now for students like us to embrace those around us, regardless of difference in upbringing, philosophy or preference. The time is now.

This is the first print Daily Mississippian of the summer and the first letter from the editor I’ve written from this desk – welcome to the 2018-19 DM. Today’s 16 pages are here to hopefully be a little bit more than a place for students and Oxford’s own to catch up on what’s new since school let out.

We’d like this issue to be one we all remember and one that we can flip back through whenever we lose touch with a sense of pride in ourselves or our neighbors.

These pages focus on Pride in the LGBTQ community. They focus on individual stories of finding personal happiness (see page 4) and on broader movements bringing a shift to the mindset surrounding LGBTQ communities in the South (page 7). We chose to run full speed with this issue to send a signal of oneness to the members of that community here in Oxford and a message of normality to those across the South who might not have before seen a front page as colorful as this one (see below).

This month is more than a celebration of the LGBTQ community nationwide, and this edition of the DM is more than an acknowledgement of that community’s bright and thriving facet here in Oxford. I hope this first edition of the 2018 summer serves as a jumping off point for both newcomers and Oxford lifers to begin rediscovering what it means to be a part of this Oxford town.

For us at The Daily Mississippian, this year looks to be one of rediscovery as well. The campus around us is changing, and we’re hoping to keep up with y’all. For us to do that, we’ll need some help on your end. Subscribe to our email newsletter (and sign your parents up), check out our website every day for news, features and sports, and pick up your print DM this summer on June 28 and July 12. We’ll make it worth your while.

Welcome back. You should be proud to be here.

SLADE RAND

DMEDITOR@GMAIL.COM

THE COVER LOOK

In the three years I have worked for The Daily Mississippian, creating the cover of the Pride issue is one of my most meaningful projects. Being gay in Mississippi can be frustrating, challenging, and sometimes even scary, but overall being in the LGBTQ community here is bold. I created the cover with this queer Southern boldness in mind. I chose to screenprint the rainbow background so that the colors would overlap, symbolizing the intersection of different identities in the LGBTQ community. The Oxford water tower is featured on the cover because it is an underused symbol for our wonderful town. The abstracted pride flag combined with the powder blue water tower create a unique visual for this important issue. As my time in Oxford comes to a close, I could not be happier with the progress Oxford, the university, and The DM have made and I cannot wait to see the strides we make in years to come. This issue of The Daily Mississippian makes me feel validated and represented as a gay Southerner, and I hope this issue makes you feel seen, too.

JAKE THRASHER

JGTHRASH@GO.OLEMISS.EDU

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The Daily Mississippian is published in print June 14, June 28 and July 12 during the summer of 2018. New content can be found online daily.

Columns do not represent the official opinions of The University of Mississippi or The Daily Mississippian unless specifically indicated.

The Daily Mississippian welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be e-mailed to dmletters@olemiss.edu.

Letters should be typed, double-spaced and no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for clarity, space or libel. Third-party letters and those bearing pseudonyms, pen names or “name withheld” will not be published. Publication is limited to one letter per individual per calendar month.

Letters should include phone and email contact information so that editors can verify authenticity. Letters from students should include grade classification and major; letters from faculty and staff should include title and the college, school or department where the person is employed.

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018| PAGE 3

Addressing racism in the LGBTQ community TERRENCE JOHNSON

TJJOHNS2@GO.OLEMISS.EDU

The queer community is multifaceted, layered and deepened with history and actions ensuring that the community thrives to be prosperous and taken seriously.

Nevertheless, there are still some issues that resonate within the community that require strategic accountability and actions. One of those issues is racism.

For many people, it seems almost outrageous for an oppressed grouped to be oppressive within itself. However, this way of life is present within the queer spectrum by how the community treats its black and brown members. In layman’s terms, one must often be white and fit or slim for other members of the community to recognize and appreciate you. According to a study conducted by gay and bisexual men’s health and life magazine FS magazine, out of 850 men, 75 percent of gay black men, 86 percent of South Asian gay men and 78 percent of mixed race gay men have experienced racism first hand on the gay scene.

There is a very distinct dichotomy to many of the experiences of queer men of color. On one hand, black and brown representation and expression is reprimanded and discounted for its very existence. On the other, black and brownness is fetishized by white counterparts. The adrenaline comes from the idea of “sneaking” to be with a black person or being able to brag about a sexual experience with a person of color, as if it something to cross off of a bucket list. Nevertheless, these men and women use people of color for sexual conquests only to degrade and deny them legitimacy to the queer world. Actions and attitudes that depress and exclude people manifest in many ways within the community. One of those ways is drag. Drag, a person dressing

in hyper-feminized or gender non-conforming clothing, often involves exaggerated femininity and acting in feminine gender roles for the purpose of entertainment. After watching a drag show that used blackface and exaggerated racial stereotypes, Chardine Taylor-Stone launched the Stop Rainbow Racism campaign. The campaign works to reduce the amount of racist drag performances and racist acts within the queer community by understanding racism as something that is a structural and an institutionalized form of oppression against people of color.

These continuous acts to ostracize various people within the queer community have been recognized and legitimized by many, influencing changes to some of the core aspects of the LGBTQIA+ community such as the changing of the flag. The new flag added black and brown stripes to represent LGBT individuals of color.

The flag was unveiled by the More Color More Pride campaign, which aims to recognize non-white LGBT communities as part of a more reflective and honest community by providing visibility to those that are often overlooked. The unveiling happened almost exactly one year ago.

Media has played a very strong role in denying visibility and equal representation to black and brown people. Some of the most wellknown magazines, like OUT Magazine, rarely showcase people of color or tell their stories. The publications are white-washed and reflect little effort to be a leading force for body positivity.

Being a queer person is one of the most rewarding aspects of my life. Being a person of color remains a staple to who I am and my ability to survive and thrive effortlessly. Like many people, I believe that these two things can live and coexist beautifully because both of them reside within so many people who are changing our world to make it more visible, inclusive, and honest. Now, it is our white counterparts’ turn to use their privilege and various statuses to assist and aid the entire queer community. No longer can we only stand by supporting only those who are white, fit, and slim. Our work must include all of those people that continue to make our community robust and honest. We must.

ILLUSTRATION BY JAKE THRASHER

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PAGE 4 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018

The new normal The first gay married couple in Oxford consider their marriage, equality, the future DEVNA BOSE

DMMANAGING@GMAIL.COM

“He’s into sci-fi, fantasy, and Dr. Who, and I’m into sitcoms, Grey’s Anatomy, and Orange is the New Black. We’re total animal hoarders. We’ve got four dogs. He has chickens and goats – I’m talking Farmer freakin’ Brown. He can go deer hunting, kill the deer, field dress it, start cooking a stew, and can crochet a blanket while the stew cooks.”

Corey Blount beams as he rattles on about his husband of three years, Kurt Smith.

“Kurt is a jack of all trades. He’s the fixer, and I do the cleaning. We don’t fight. We love to go to Memphis and go to the Asian grocery stores there. We’re NPR freaks – we hardly ever listen to music,” he says in one breath, before summing it all up in a sentence I almost miss because it’s said so resolutely.

“He makes me want to be a better person.”

MARRIED ON JUNE 29

Blount and Smith were the first gay couple to obtain a marriage license in Oxford and were married in Oxford back in June 2015 when the same-sex marriage ban was first struck down. Blount remembers the day well.

“When we found out on Monday morning that it had been legalized in Mississippi, Kurt called me and asked, ‘Do you want to go to courthouse and get married?’” Blount said.

Blount said the two had talked about it over the weekend going to the grocery store, and it wasn’t until that moment that

it actually became a reality for the couple. When the question arose, Blount responded, “Of course.”

After they got married, Blount came back to his office in Martindale and called his parents.

“It took them a second to wrap their heads around it,” he said. “It was quite a ride and a rush.”

Smith described it as a rare moment when the opportunity and timing were “right to do something actively without having to be an agitator.”

“We had the opportunity to do something on a human level that all people should have access and a right to for the first time,” he said. “For me, it was being able to make a statement of equality and humanity without having to make a statement of being pissed off about something.”

They hadn’t planned on making history that day, which seems to be a common theme for the couple. They were just doing what any other couple in love would want to do – get married.

‘NOTHING HAS CHANGED’

Three years later, Blount stresses that nothing much has changed. As I inquire more about what’s been going on with the couple since that day at the courthouse, Blount says, “You’re going to have a boring story because honestly, nothing changed for us.”

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Smith agrees that these differences are the opposite of a detriment to their relationship ­– they bring the couple closer together.

“I don’t think it’s about finding common ground. Relationships are about being with somebody who is different from you or else you sit around all day agreeing with each other,” Smith said. “He challenges me, and I challenge him. We have interesting discussions and opinions, and we balance each others’ lives out.”

One thing the couple shares is their faith, a theme that has

A SHARED FAITH

remained constant throughout their relationship.

“I prayed really hard when we first got together,” Blount said.

Smith was raised Pentecostal, and Blount grew up Southern Baptist, but both converted to Catholicism later in life. Though Blount jokingly refers to himself and Smith as “lazy sinners” who don’t go to church as much as they should, their faith is something they both value.

In fact, Blount believes it’s their duty as a religious couple to show everyone that God is love and what they have together is love.

“I think Christianity sometimes had a bad reputation,” Blount said. “Christianity is love, and, bless our hearts, we don’t al-

LOOKING AHEAD

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON

Corey Blount and Kurt Smith embrace on the Ole Miss campus on Wednesday. Blount and Smith were the first gay couple married in Oxford three years ago.

They still live on their small farm in Denmark, a community just outside of Oxford. They still live with a menagerie of animals, according to Blount. They’ve just gotten more dogs. “Life is normal,” he says. But that is exactly how it should be.

“I think it’s been a victory for the cause of equality that we’ve set a new baseline for normalcy,” Smith said. “Generations of kids nowadays don’t have to live in a world where [same-sex marriage] is a battle and a dividing line. They’re going to get married with the same blasé normalcy that their parents had.”

Blount said one of the couple’s goals is to “normalize stuff.”

“Yes, it is important to have recognition of the past and what we need to do as a society to grow, but we’re normal people,” he says. “We present ourselves as normal everyday people, so there was absolutely nothing that changed for us [after we got married]. Life is still just school and work.”

Blount, an Access Services Coordinator/Interpreter at UM, and Smith, project coordinator for the Office of Global Engagement on campus, are both working on their PhD degrees, and spend much of their time on their respective jobs or schoolwork or pushing each other to achieve their best.

ways show it.”

Looking towards the future, the couple is starting to talk about children and building a new home, topics they didn’t really think about before they were married.

As for Oxford, they want to call it their home for many years to come.

“I never thought I’d get married to a guy in Oxford, but here we are three years after it. I think we have come a long way,” he said. “Hopefully in the next few years we’re going to buy some land and build a house. The one we have now is pretty old. We want something that’s ours because we love it here. We want to retire here in Oxford. This is where we want to be.”

While they’ve lived here, the couple says that they’ve never had a negative experience, but they acknowledge, “Where there are people, there will be hate.”

“Where there are differences there will always be someone who doesn’t like that difference,” Blount said. “That is the same with us and our relationship and our marriage. Wherever there is a minority, there are going to be people who want to keep that minority oppressed. While strides can be made, we’re always going to be an imperfect society.”

Regardless, Blount’s goal is to continue spreading love and understanding in his community, answering invasive, ignorant questions with compassion.

“Society as a whole in accepting difference and understanding individuals, we’re certainly a lot further along that what we started with. In the South, yeah, it’s hard, and you’ve got the people who don’t want to bake the cakes.”

Blount looks at me, rolls his eyes and delivers, “Well, then, don’t go to them to get your damn cake, child.”

PUZZLE PIECES

Described by Blount as “two puzzle pieces,” the couple couldn’t be more different.

Smith is quiet and reserved, while Blount’s bubbliness is obvious on first encounter. Their hobbies starkly contrast, as Smith prefers outdoor activities and Blount prefers being indoors. Blount’s conversations are hilariously dotted with “bless your heart”s while Smith prefers to state how he feels matter-of-factly.

“We don’t like doing anything together,” Smith joked, before catching a stern look from Blount.

“He’s so wonderful and patient, and I am not so patient,” Blount explained. “I’m very Irish and emotional, and sometimes I say things I shouldn’t. There’s no filter sometimes. We’re perfect complements of each other. Everything the other is not, the other is. We fit.”

Though their differences are stark, somehow they’re compatible, a unique characteristic that isn’t lost on those around the couple. Their colleague and friend Robin Yekaitis said that the two’s relationship thrives off their contrasting personalities and interests.

“I do think they value each other’s faith and time. Both of them will do little surprises for each other, which can be making a special dinner one night or writing a poem,” she said. “They have different interests but their interests also work together.”

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State and local leaders react to Supreme Court decision TAYLOR VANCE + SUAD PATTON-BEY THEDMNEWS@GMAIL.COM

AP PHOTO J. SCOTT

American Civil Liberties Union activists demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court on June 4th in Washington. The Supreme Court ruled for a Colorado baker who wouldn’t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in a limited decision that leaves for another day the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people.

The United States Supreme Court issued a 7-2 ruling on June 4 in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to design and bake a wedding cake for a gay couple.

The ruling issued a narrow ruling in the case and did not address the issue of whether businesses owners can choose to deny service to members of the LGBTQ community under the First Amendment.

Instead, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority opinion addresses how the Colorado Civil Rights Commission unfairly targeted the owner of the bakery.

“When the Colorado Civil Rights Commission considered this case, it did not do so with the religious neutrality that the Constitution requires,” Kennedy wrote. “Given all these considerations...the Commission’s actions here violated the Free Exercise Clause; and its order must be set aside.”

The ruling did not grant an open invitation for businesses to discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community, but, instead, reaffirmed gay rights protections under the Constitution.

“Our society has come to the recognition that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth,” Kennedy wrote. “For that reason the laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect them in the exercise of their civil rights.”

Both of Mississippi’s U.S. Senators, Cindy

Hyde-Smith (R) and Roger Wicker (R), agreed with the Court’s decision and said the decision was a great win for religious liberty.

“Religious freedom is a founding tenet of our Constitution,” Hyde-Smith said. “I’m pleased that on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, the Supreme Court has taken another step to protect the rights of those who live their religious beliefs.”

Wicker also agreed with the Court’s decision, but said the Court can go even further to grant citizens protection for religious liberty.

“Today, the Supreme Court made the right call,” Wicker said. “The First Amendment and equal protection under the law apply to all citizens – including Christians. The court should go further to make sure no American is forced to choose between violating the law or violating his or her religious beliefs.”

State Rep. Jay Hughes (D-Oxford) said he also agreed with the Court’s decision, but said the ruling doesn’t anything to do with religious freedom.

“If you look at the Court’s ruling, the Court only looked at the narrow scope of the facts pertaining to this case,” Hughes said. “This was not a broad decision, and two liberal justices on the court voted in favor of the decision.”

Hughes said the Court only ruled the baker was unfairly targeted by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Court reaffirmed

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John Currence, owner of Big Bad Breakfast; City Grocery; Snackbar and Boure restaurants in Oxford, has long been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and said the ruling doesn’t change anything about how his restaurants will be run. He said his restaurants will still be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

“Who cares what religion someone else practices or what their sexual orientation is or what the color of their skin is?” Currence said. “We are all the same genus species and deserving of the same basic respect, love and human rights as the next person.”

Currence also said he is tired of religion being used to discriminate against the LGBTQ community.

“I am tired of my religion being used as justification for hatred and exclusion when the central message is exactly the opposite of what the most ‘fervent’ believers would want you to believe,” Currence said. “The same people who preach intolerance of the LGBTQ community have no interest in examining the rest of the Old Testament law and seeing how guilty they are of violating God’s word. It’s disgusting.”

Currence also said the ideas of a restaurant and the dinner table is to be welcoming of people and to have discussions to understand each other.

He also said the issue of LGBTQ rights and religious freedom is not exclusive to the food industry because photographers have refused service to people too, but restaurants just have a huge grassroots organization.

“It is a massive industry and when it mobilizes, it is loud,” Currence said. “Dignity, decency and decorum have melted away allowing an explosion of bile and venom. We are being encouraged to divide rather than unite.

Our worst fears are being preyed upon and people are responding accordingly. Worst of all, truth has been dismissed with simple denial and intellectualism has been villainized in favor of lazy, unresearched mud-slinging.”

Ole Miss College Democrats president Jaz Brisack disagreed with the Court’s decision entirely and said the ruling allowed for people to discriminate.

“If you can discriminate against some people, then you can discriminate against all people.” Brisack said. “As Fannie Lou Hamer said, ‘Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.’

The decision is a denial of basic human rights.”

Ya Ya’s Frozen Yogurt manager Amanda Hawkins said she is conflicted about the ruling and can see both sides of the issue.

“I am not going to turn anybody down for service”, Hawkins said. “On the other hand, it should be (the owners’) decision who they want to make a cake for and who they don’t want to.”

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PAGE 8 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018

y e l l a V Violet DEVNA BOSE

DMMANAGING@GMAIL.COM

Almost smack dab in the middle of North Main Street in the sleepy, pastel-hue town of Water Valley a few miles down the road from Oxford, a tiny bookstore stands defiantly with a pride flag in its window, like it’s daring you to come inside.

Violet Valley Bookstore officially made its grand opening in February of this past year, and it’s been open every Friday and Saturday since.

The project of Jaime Harker, an English professor and the director of the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, opening the bookstore has been her long-time dream.

“Anyone who loves books has always dreamed of opening a bookstore, so in some sense, it was always in the back of my mind,” she said.

Harker’s home of nine years, Water Valley, is going through something of a downtown revitalization, becoming a real art hub of northern Mississippi. Several women have recently started businesses on Main Street, including Annette Trefzer, who is the owner of Bozart’s Gallery, and Harker’s wife Dixie Grimes, who is co-owner of BTC Old-Fashioned Grocery.

“I had a lot of good role models,” she said.

“When the space became available, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a chance.”

The narrow space located directly next to BTC has housed everything from barbers to paintings before finally becoming the home of shelves upon shelves of queer literature. The bookstore is an “education nonprofit,” meaning its purpose is to provide inexpensive literature to the community.

Harker, who identifies as a lesbian, said that even though the bookstore is not related to Ole Miss in any way, it is “absolutely connected to her work as a feminist and queer scholar.” Feminist and LGBTQ bookstores were integral to Harker as she was growing up and coming out.

Southern lesbian feminists and their connection to the Women in Print movement, the subject of Harker’s latest book, inspired her.

“These women wrote their own books, start-

ed their own publishing houses, and opened bookstores because they believed it was necessary and important,” she said. “They taught themselves how to do everything, made up their own rules…they were groundbreaking in so many ways. And I thought: they did this without any of the advantages that I have. They inspired me to take a chance, too.”

The only other paid employee of Violet Valley Bookstore, Ellis Starkey calls themself “the book person.” Starkey has been with Violet Valley since its beginning, watching it become the welcoming, and inclusive space for so many that it is today.

‘‘

Violet Valley Bookstore is open all year, and it is a place to explore new ideas and find a community of folks you may not have known were here.

JAIME HARKER OWNER OF VIOLET VALLEY BOOKSTORE

“We have several kids who act like they own the place. They come in, grab some candy from the bowl by the register, grab a book, and sprawl out on the chair,” they said. “[The bookstore] is inspired by all of the people we know who just need a space to be themselves.”

Kendrick Wallace understands that feeling.

An Ole Miss student, he describes Violet Valley as a place where he feels welcome.

“It’s a place you can come to and just feel normal,” he said. “You can walk in with your significant other, and you can hold hands with them, browse books together and not feel like someone looks at you in a weird way. It’s just unencumbered by views from other people.”

Harker’s mission was just that – to give the LGBTQ community a space to exist in the South, physically and literarily.

“In the South, especially the rural South, queer people are frequently invisible. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there – but people

tend to talk about it in code,” she said. “This can make queer folks, especially queer youth, feel like they are the only people in the world, that there is no one like them – except maybe in a big city far away.”

Oftentimes when they do hear about gay people, it is through “denunciations from the pulpit or homophobic slurs at school,” according to Harker.

“This puts gay youth at enormous risk – of suicide, of homelessness, of depression,” she said. “Those who survive move away, even though many love the South and would like to stay. But they feel it is impossible to be who they are in their home communities.”

Starkey said that in a way, they’re fighting the “brain drain,” the wave of talented young professionals leaving Mississippi.

“There have been a flood of messages from people who grew up in Mississippi and moved away for one reason or the other and reached out and said if they had a place like [Violet Valley], they might have stayed in Mississippi,” they said. “We’re just doing our part, trying to be kind.”

Emails come from places as far away from New York or California, and donations of boxes filled with books have been delivered from all over the country.

Starkey explained that throughout history, queer people have constantly had to make their own space through events or parades, but many of those welcoming spaces are only temporary. Violet Valley is a more permanent home and resource for the LGBTQ community.

“Code Pink pops up one Thursday a semester and is bright and loud and beautiful, but then it disappears again,” Starkey said. “It’s important that people have a place to come that they depend on, and they can ask questions that they couldn’t ask at their local library or school counselor but hopefully feel safe asking us.”

Though it isn’t the first, as of right now, Violet Valley Bookstore in the only queer feminist bookstore in the state, further proving the importance of its existence.

“There aren’t a lot of visibly queer spaces in

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018| PAGE 9

A BEACON OF HOPE

Small details around Violet Valley Bookstore in Water Valley depict themes of equality and queerness.

(Right) Eli Morgan browses the discounted shelves of books outside of the bookstore.

PHOTOS BY DEVNA BOSE

Mississippi. That is slowly starting to change; Pride parades are beginning to happen across the state, including Oxford and Starkville. But that just happens once a year,” Harker said.

“Violet Valley Bookstore is open all year, and it is a place to explore new ideas and find a community of folks you may not have known were here.”

Harker stressed the bookstore’s increased importance as a result of recent legislation.

“It is especially necessary now, since the passage of HB 1523. It is a law that declares open season on queer folks, and makes us feel like we can be discriminated against and singled out anytime, anywhere,” she said.

“Having a space where we are celebrated and supported is particularly important right now.”

When the bookstore’s opening was first announced, the community reactions were mixed, but Harker said things have calmed down significantly since then. Many didn’t know what to expect initially, but have since visited the bookstore and become regulars.

For newcomers and regulars alike, Harker wants each visitor to gain a sense of possibility.

“I can’t tell you how many people come into the store and can’t quite believe that it is there. They want to know why there is an LGBTQ feminist bookstore in Water Valley, and not in Jackson, or Oxford, or some oth-

er bigger place,” Harker said. “And I say, why don’t you open one? Don’t wait for someone else. Do it yourself. Remake the world the way you believe it should be.”

For many years to come, Harker hopes, Violet Valley will continue existing as a beacon of hope and pride and love.

“Violet Valley Bookstore is a place that says to queer youth, and the LGBTQ community as a whole: we want you here. You’re welcome here,” Harker said. “You are part of a vast and beautiful tribe, and we love you because of who you are, not in spite of it.”

PAGE 10 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018

Celebrate Pride Month by reading LGBTQ-friendly novels Pride Month is a great time to not only celebrate LGBTQ people but also LGBTQ literature. While there are so many worthy queer books, the following works are a great introduction to different facets of queer life with an emphasis on the LGBTQ community in the South.

JAKE THRASHER

JGTHRASH@GO.OLEMISS.EDU

BLUE RIDER

HOW TO SURVIVE A SUMMER Nick White

500 TIPS FOR FAT GIRLS Mary Lambert

BIGCARTEL

While “500 Tips for Fat Girls” is not actually a book of tips, the best tip I can give you is to read this moving collection of poetry. In this book, Mary Lambert creates gorgeous poems on the topics of rape, mental health, body image, sexuality, and much more. These poignant poems will definitely make you cry, but they will also act as a catalyst for healing and self-love. From heartbreak to mental health, “500 Tips for Fat Girls” will help you explore these struggles and inspire you to fight these burdens through loving and accepting oneself. Lambert’s radical vulnerability and mastery of the English language are just two of the many components that make this collection of poetry so impactful in a society that tends to shy away from these important issues.

AMAZON

In “How to Survive a Summer,” Will Dillard, a graduate student, has to reckon with his past after viewing a trailer for the new horror film, “Proud Flesh.” This new movie is based on a conversion therapy camp he was forced to attend in his childhood. As Will travels back to the campsite in the Mississippi Delta, he recounts his torturous summer at Camp Levi where the campers were abused and baptized in a hazardous lake. White’s book explores the dangers of conversion therapy, but also shows the nuances of Mississippi.

Through compelling narrative, Nick White brings to light the horrors of conversion therapy which is still legal in 37 states.

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

AMAZON

MISSISSIPPI SISSY Kevin Sessums

Kevin Sessums’ honest and emotional memoire, “Mississippi Sissy,” recounts his childhood of growing up gay in Mississippi during the 1950s and 60s. Sessums’ femininity growing up always made him an outsider, but this memoire explores much more than just being a flamboyant boy in the South. After losing both of his parents at a very young age, Sessums experiences many more tragedies such as sexual assault and the homophobic murder of his friend and mentor. Through personal narrative, Sessums very bluntly exposes racism in the South and in the LGBTQ community during the civil rights era. Although the memoire takes place over 50 years ago, “Mississippi Sissy” illuminates many issues still present today.

KOBO.COM

AGAINST EQUALTY Edited by: Ryan Conrad

MADNESS Sam Sax

SWEET TEA: BLACK GAY MEN OF THE SOUTH E. Patrick Johnson

“Against Equality: Queer Revolution Not Mere Inclusion” is a collection of essays written by queer thinkers that argue against the mainstream LGBTQ fight for equality. These essays argue that most rights the LGBTQ community have been fighting for, such as marriage equality and inclusion in the military, are simply ways for those in power to silence dissent without actually addressing the systematic injustice in society. These essays will challenge you to question the queer community’s place in economic, prison and societal reform. At the very least, you will walk away from this collection asking yourself, “How can we most successfully liberate and empower LGBTQ people globally?”

Sam Sax, a queer Jewish writer, won the 2016 National Poetry Series Competition with this debut collection of poems, “Madness.” Sax’s poems address broad concepts, such as the evolution of diagnoses and treatment of mental health issues, but also address Sax’s personal experiences with mental health, sex, and addiction. Sax’s deft writing analyzes the intersection of medicine, mental health and the queer community and creates a sense of queer identity through queer slang and cultural references. If you are looking for a collection of poetry that does not shy away from taboo topics, then “Madness” is the groundbreaking collection of poems for you.

In “Sweet Tea,” E. Patrick Johnson challenges the common stereotypes of the South through more than 60 biographies of Southern gay black men. “Sweet Tea” displays the South in a different way, rather than the usual racist and homophobic perspective, by showing the ways in which black gay men create identities, relationships, and communities in southern spaces. This book is an effective stride for a community hardly represented in media. While all of the stories are about gay black men, there is a huge diversity of age, occupation, and education level which creates an honest history of the queer black South. Johnson breaks down stereotypes through personal accounts involving gay black men and validates the existence of southern gay black men.

FOR MORE BOOKS, VISIT THEDMONLINE.COM

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018| PAGE 11

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HOW TO:

PRIDE TERRIUS HARRIS

THARRIS4@GO.OLEMISS.EDU

“Yassss, queen” is not just a phrase but a way of life. From owning the runway that you created on the side of the street to dressing like a dime as others gawk with jealousy, here’s your three step guide for owning your first pride.

1 The ‘Fit. Your outfit should be nothing less than a spectacular masterpiece that embodies your very soul. Whether it’s your unicorn horn with your rainbow tutu, or jeans and a basic black t-shirt with “ZADDY” in big bold white letters written across your chest, the most important thing is to be you. From crazy and extravagant to simple and elegant, the thing to remember is that it’s your time to shine. No matter other people’s thoughts and what they deem to be appropriate, nobody can control you but the law. With that said, remember your birthday suit is best left at home, unless you’re in LA where apparently anything goes.

2 The ‘Tude. An abbreviation for your attitude, it should obviously be fierce. Be confident and shameless about who you are, and remember everyone is there to celebrate and have fun. I know for some, you may have just come out and it can be intimidating, but you are not alone. Before you leave the house, be sure to call your hype man and give yourself a few Sharpay blurrs in the mirror to bring out that inner queen we all know is there. This is your moment, and this your time, so do not let anyone stop you from rocking to the beat of your own rhythm and rhyme.

3 The Wig. You don’t want your wig to be snatched. Pride is a time of joy, pride is a time of fun, but it’s also a time to be respectful of everyone. Remember that it may be your first time, but this parade is a place where a lot of people feel at home. Yes, you’re invited, but remember to wipe your feet at the door. Wipe your feet of any prejudice, hate and barriers. Remain open, loving and pure; and your pride experience will be one for all your years. From drag queens kissing your face, leather lovers with their chains, and literal fairies prancing about, it can be overwhelming. However, remember that Pride isn’t just a parade, and that there is a space to be found by all. So if dancing or yelling isn’t your cup of tea, don’t judge others – instead, find a different drink.

These are three easy steps in one easy to read guide. If you were hesitant before, I hope this changed your mind.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or straight, everyone is welcome on this glorious date. Grab your best bud and prepare for the time of your life as you take on your first Pride.

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018| PAGE 13

OutOxford hosts picnic in honor of Pride Month LEXI PURVIS

CAPURVIS@GO.OLEMISS.EDU

OutOxford will host its first Pride Picnic event at Lamar Park on June 24 in honor of Pride Month, which is held every year during the month of June.

OutOxford was founded in 2017 with a goal to educate and connect the Oxford, Ole Miss, and LGBTQ communities together.

OutOxford hosts numerous LGBTQ focused events throughout the year to create safe social environments for those within the gay community as well as those who just want to the support the community.

OutOxford hosts an recurring event throughout the year known as “Code Pink” at Proud Larry’s. The Code Pink nights often have different themes including a “Babadook Bash” for Halloween and a “Rainbow Birthday Bash” theme for Pride Weekend back in May. The Code Pink parties cost $5-10 to attend and all of the proceeds go to OutOxford to help

promote more events, such as the upcoming Pride Picnic.

“Code Pink cultivates a place for goers to be openly confronted with queer culture in Mississippi,” OutOxford co-director Blake Summers said. “I enjoy planning a club-style event and collaborating with performers, DJs, and drag queens, but OutOxford intentionally honors that the LGBTQ culture is more than nightlife. We are a community of people that want to feel accepted, safe, and act as contributing members of Oxford.”

The Pride Picnic will consist of various picnic games, including kickball and other activities in a “family reunion” fashion in order for attendees to create lasting bonds with one another. The picnic is open to the Oxford public and OutOxford welcomes ally support.

OutOxford often incorporates allies of the gay community within its events so those within

the LGBTQ community can get to know other advocates for the community.

“I’ve always had a passion for supporting the LGBTQ community,” student and ally Kate Vana said. “They have it rough, especially in the South, so I want to help any way that I can.

I think it’s important for people to meet those within the LGBT community because it breaks down a lot of barriers and helps you realize that we’re really all not that different from each other.”

OutOxford is working to reach out to different local businesses for item donations for the Pride Picnic. OutOxford has received all of the fundamentals for a typical picnic including watermelons, loaves of bread and more.

“This might be many peoples’ first Pride event ever too, and that excites me,” Summers said. “I hope older generations come and are proud as queer Mississipians.”

2017 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report University of Mississippi PWS# 360015 April 2018

We’re pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Quality Water Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Kyle Cummings at 662.915.5923 or David Adkisson at 662.915.1462. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.

Our water source is from wells drawing from the Meridian Upper Wilcox Aquifer. The source water assessment has been completed for our public water system to determine the overall susceptibility of its drinking water supply to identify potential sources of contamination. A report containing detailed information on how the susceptibility determinations were made has been furnished to our public water system and is available for viewing upon request. The wells for the University of Mississippi have received moderate rankings in terms of susceptibility to contamination.

We routinely monitor for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2017. In cases where monitoring wasn’t required in 2017, the table reflects the most recent results. As water travels over the surface of land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials and can pick up substances or contaminants from the presence of animals or from human activity; microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm-water runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses; organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations and septic systems; radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. It’s important to remember that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

In this table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions: Action Level - the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The “Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary to control microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) – The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk of health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

TEST RESULTS Contaminant

Violation Y/N

Date Collected

Level Detected

Range of Unit Detects or Measurement # of Samples Exceeding MCL/ACL/MRDL

MCLG

MCL

Likely Source of Contamination

Radioactive Contaminants 5. Gross Alpha

N

2014*

1.5

.7 – 1.5

pCi/L

0

15

Erosion of natural deposits

6. Radium 226 Radium 228

N

2014*

.4 1

.2 – .4 .8 – 1

pCi/L

0

5

Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganic Contaminants 10. Barium

N

2015*

.0226

No Range

ppm

2

2

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

13. Chromium

N

2015*

.8

.7 – .8e

ppb

100

100

Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits

14. Copper

N

2014/16*

.6

0

ppm

1.3

AL=1.3

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

16. Fluoride

N

2015*

.269

No Range

ppm

4

4

17. Lead

N

2014/16*

1

0

ppb

0

AL=15

Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

19. Nitrate (as Nitrogen)

N

2017

.52

No Range

ppm

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Disinfection By-Product 81. HAA5

N

2017

10

2 – 10

ppb

0

60

By-Product of drinking water disinfection

Chlorine

N

2017

1.2

.48 – 1.9

ppm

0

MRDL=4

Water additive used to control microbes

*Most recent sample. No sample required for 2017. **Fluoride level is routinely adjusted to the MS State Dept. of Health’s recommended level of 0.6-1.3 mg/l.

As you can see by the table, our system had no violations. We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that some contaminants have been detected however the EPA has determined that your water IS SAFE at these levels.

We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a monthly basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. In an effort to ensure systems complete all monitoring requirements, MSDH now notifies systems of any missing samples prior to the end of the compliance period.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Our water system is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ lead. The Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health Laboratory offers lead testing. Please contact 601.576.7582 if you wish to have your water tested.

To comply with the “Regulation Governing Fluoridation of Community Water Supplies”, our system is required to report certain results pertaining to fluoridation of our water system. The number of months in the previous calendar year in which average fluoride sample results were within the optimal range of 0.6-1.3 ppm was 10. The percentage of fluoride samples collected in the previous calendar year that was within the optimal range of 0.6-1.3 ppm was 72%.

All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man made. These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances. All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.

Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection

by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1.800.426.4791.

The University of Mississippi works around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.

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PAGE 14 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018

Podcast roundup: Pride

Celebrate Pride Month with essential podcasts from voices in the LGBTQ community ETHEL MWEDZIWENDIRA

TEMWEDZI@GO.OLEMISS.EDU

A GAY AND NONGAY

THIS WAY OUT

The theme of this podcast is that no matter who you are, or what you’re into, love is love and gay and nongays can be friends. James Barr and Dan Hudson created the show as a way to address day-to-day issues which include homophobia, mental health, coming out and differences in perceptions while promoting equality, A GAY AND NONGAY/FACEBOOK freedom and friendship. Their friendship started when Barr, who was friends with Hudson’s girlfriend Talia, started spending time together after Talia went abroad.

Since the creation of the show, their friendship has been considered “one of the most fundamentally kind and funny podcasts in Britain” because of their mission of sending a positive message of hope and inclusion to listeners. Previous episodes have focused on transphobia which brought on Juno Dawson, author of “The Gender Games” and “This Book is Gay” to discuss Juno’s life since transitioning, to an episode about the discussion of the history of music for and by the LGBTQ community. Overall, the two are great together and showcase, at the end of the day, how we’re all the same, and at the same time, we’re all different.

Since 1988, This Way Out (TWO) has been a news outlet for the LGBTQ community, using storytelling to reach its global audience. The podcast, which is heard in over 150 local community radio stations around the world, focuses on culture and politics within the queer community. It has been a key source for me in obtaining accurate informaSTITCHER tion that isn’t typically covered by most mainstream outlets. The show invites guests who can share a unique perspective on their experiences they face being queer. For example, the most recent episode I listened to featured a roundup about news in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It shared information and updates about a gay man making peace with Islam, undercover cops in Cameroon raiding the capital’s gay venues and Russia’s talks with the United Nations about purging LGBTQ citizens in the most Muslim-populated region in Chehnya. In terms of keeping up-to-date with the latest news surrounding the LGBTQ world, the podcast is the most definitive of its kind and each episode is roughly thirty minutes, the perfect length for a commute to work.

IF THESE OVARIES COULD TALK

NANCY

Hosted by Jaimie Kelton and Robin Hopkins, “If These Ovaries Could Talk” brings strong women in the LGBTQ community together by sharing what it means to raise children in a non-traditional fashion.

Inspired by her experience with infertility, Kelton wanted to hear stories from other people who were experiencing similar problems, and what better way to OVARIES COULD TALK/FACEBOOK hear other perspectives than creating a podcast that brings people together facing similar issues? Every week, the two, with occasional guests, discuss their experiences, setbacks and challenges they face raising a family. Though the topics can be tough, from discussions about same-sex couples having babies without donors or using a surrogate, the two hosts do a good job at keeping the atmosphere light while continuing to bring diverse voices that explore the LGBTQ family experience. This podcast is relevant at a time when there are limited podcasts that focus on non-traditional families.

So just to clarify – “Nancy” is a podcast not a person. For people wondering where the name derives from, it’s an old-school name for a gay man, though host Kathy Tu says it’s a bit irrelevant and fun. The name almost mirrors the mood of the podcast. It’s fun, authentic, and, for some, relatable. Hosted by Kathy Tu and Tobin Low, the two BFFs share conNANCY/FACEBOOK versations and stories, in a uncensored production, about the LGBTQ experience. To sum it all up, the show is as straightforward as it gets while giving listeners a sense of what it may feel like to be invisible, focusing on the intersections of LGBTQ issues, like what it’s like be queer in the workplace, and, ultimately, trying to find out who you are. It’s a show that serves as a platform for the voiceless and people that want to come out but are afraid to. The podcast has thrived through its storytelling mechanism, helping individuals not feel as alone or different.

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018| PAGE 15

The Square could soon officially become a “Downtown District”

A GUIDE TO THE DM ONLINE Visit thedmonline.com to read these full stories, and check the website every day for news, features, sports and multimedia content.

Applauding the 2018 Ole Miss baseball season The 2018 Ole Miss baseball season did not end the way Coach Mike Bianco and the Ole Miss faithful imagined it to end, however, following the lost to Tennessee Tech University the Ole Miss fan base stood applauding the Rebel team as they walked out of their dugout. As difficult as it might be to look past the road not taken to Omaha and find a silver lining, Ole Miss fans will remember this special group of playmakers that took the field this past year. They will remember the season and great memories leaders like Ryan Rolison, Will Golsan, Nick Fortes and company blessed the Ole Miss baseball program with in 2018.

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON

The Oxford Board of Aldermen held its first reading on a proposed ordinance to designate the Square as a“Downtown District.” If the ordinance passes, certain businesses that fall in the boundaries of the special district would operate under different laws and be required to adopt a special set of updates. Some of the requirements businesses would have to implement are security cameras at each entrance, scanners for driver’s licenses of patrons entering bars and a safety plan that addresses safety protocols for emergency situations. A second reading of the bill will be on Tuesday, July 19.

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON

NATIONAL CHAMP Arianne Hartono

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON

Arianne Hartono, a senior on the Ole Miss Women’s Tennis team, made history by capturing the program’s first-ever women’s singles title in the 2018 NCAA Championship.

Hartono defeated Pepperdine’s Ashley Lahey at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex 6-4, 6-2 on May 28 to secure the title. She joins 2009 men’s tennis NCAA Champion, Devin Britton, as the only players from Ole Miss to win an NCAA singles national championship. Winning the championship was the best possible end to Hartono’s outstanding career at Ole Miss. She finished the year 37-6, which tied for the second most on the all-time-single-season win list.

NEW REBS ON CAMPUS 2018-2019 Orientation

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON

PHONE IN ONE HAND

Summer Sunset Series in the Grove

TICKET

IN THE OTHER

JUNE 17

ANDERSON GROVE APARTMENTS NEWLY RENOVATED FOR AUGUST 2018

Kit Thorn Band

NOW LEASING Pricing per unit per month: 1 bedroom/ 1 bathroom: $775.00 2 bedroom/2 bathroom: $925.00 Pet Fee: $25.00 per pet (limit 2)

662-832-3000 Conveniently located just off Jackson Avenue on Anderson Road, this newly renovated community offers many amenities and features including: • State-of-the-art fitness center • Sparkling swimming pool • Recreation Room with pool table • Stainless Steel Appliance Package in every unit

• Washer/Dryer in every unit • Quarter mile from popular dining/shopping establishments • Half mile from university campus • 1.5 miles from the historic

Oxford Square • OUT Transit • Water/sewer/sanitation allowance included (ask for details)

Call today to schedule a tour, or stop by and see for yourself why so many are wanting to call Anderson Grove Apartments HOME! 1903 Anderson Road • Oxford, MS 38655

JUNE 24 Sam Mooney CHRISTIAN JOHNSON

CLASSIFIEDS FOR RENT TURNBERRY CONDO 3 BR, 2 BA, Gated/ Pool. W/ D. Internet/ Cable. $1280. Avail July. 901-262-1855 LARGE 2 BEDROOM 2.5 bath townhouse for rent with washer/dryer included. Quiet atmosphere, no pets, close to campus. Deposit required. Call (662)234-0000

3BR/2.5BA. All major appliances, cable, close to campus. Mature students. No pets. $1000/ mo.

Avail August. 662-816-6938 1 bedroom 1&1/2 bath Across from The Hub. All appliances including washer/dryer. $675 a month starting July 1. (662) 6072400

PAGE 16 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 14 JUNE 2018

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